Advisory Board Endorses "Human Security" as the Theme of the Second AHDR Series

On September 8th, 2007, Ms. Amat Alsoswa, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States, chaired the first meeting of the Arab Human Development Report 2008 Advisory Board in Cairo in order to discuss the framework and process for the launch of a new series of AHDR focused on the Arab States region.

The new Advisory Board consists of prominent Arab intellectuals who represent a regional cross-section and an improved gender balance close to 50/50. The Board endorsed the theme of "Human Security in the Arab World" for the second series. Dr. Mustapha Kamel El-Sayed, a renowned development expert and contributor to the first AHDR series (2002, 2004, 2005) was selected as Lead Author for this report. Dr. El-Sayed gave a presentation and proposal of the key pillars of Human Security to be tackled in the report.

The Board reconfirmed the AHDR as an "entry point for change." One noted example is the establishment of the Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Foundation for Human Development with a fund of $10 billion USD, which focuses on knowledge as articulated in the AHDR 2003. RBAS seeks to capitalize on the momentum of the previous series to partner with new organizations and sponsors in addressing the development challenges of the region.

Mrs. Alsoswa also met with leading journalists and media in Cairo and briefed them on the theme and the approach for the next AHDR. They offered their full support for the new series, which will champion a process inclusive of the region's youth, while opening up discussions with NGOs, civil society and media through e-discussions, focus group discussions, and other mechanisms to ensure the widest range of contribution from the region for the region.

The target launch date for this new report is in the second half of 2008.

Along with the launch of the new series, a new website devoted to the AHDR has been launched at the following address: www.arab-hdr.org